Search Results for keywords:"Incidental Harassment Authorization"

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering granting permission for activities that may unintentionally disturb small numbers of polar bears in Alaska's North Slope. The authorization would cover nonlethal disturbances, like noise from oil well cleanup and helicopter flights, but not allow any activities that would harm or kill the bears. They have proposed specific rules to minimize the disturbance, such as keeping aircraft at certain altitudes and avoiding known bear dens. There is also a public comment period until February 12, 2025, where individuals can express their concerns or support for this proposal.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has reissued an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to the U.S. Navy for their maintenance and pile replacement project in Puget Sound, Washington. This reissuance extends the previously granted authorization, with the only change being the new effective dates from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. The Navy will be allowed to harass 10 species of marine mammals in a minor way during construction activities, consistent with previous authorizations, as the overall impacts are deemed negligible. The measures to mitigate, monitor, and report the activity impacts remain unchanged.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issued an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation for their construction activities related to the Alaska Liquefied Natural Gas Project at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. This authorization allows the incidental harassment of small numbers of marine mammals, including whales and seals, during the construction activities, with measures in place to minimize impacts. The authorization requires stopping pile driving activities during the Nuiqsut whaling season and includes several mitigation efforts like mandatory observation by trained professionals to protect these animals. The NMFS concluded that these construction activities would not significantly affect the survival or recovery of endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.

The U.S. Navy has requested the renewal of an incidental harassment authorization from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to allow for the taking of marine mammals during construction activities at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Maine. These activities, which have been delayed, involve modifications to Dry Dock 1 and are similar to those previously authorized, with minimal changes. The NMFS ensures these activities have a negligible impact on marine life, and they have opened a 15-day public comment period to gather further input. The Navy is required to follow specific measures to minimize impacts, including monitoring and reporting any interactions with marine mammals during construction.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has reissued an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for construction activities involved in the Unalaska Channels Deepening Project in Alaska. This reissuance is necessary due to project delays and extends the period of the initial authorization. The authorization allows for the incidental harassment of four species of marine mammals, like humpback whales and Steller sea lions, ensuring that the impacts remain negligible. The reissued IHA maintains the same mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements as originally approved, and complies with environmental laws including the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) received a request from Mayflower Wind Energy LLC for permission to conduct surveys off the coast of Massachusetts, which may disturb a small number of marine mammals. These surveys are related to assessing underwater features for wind energy development. The NMFS proposes to issue an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) allowing for non-serious disturbance of marine mammals, especially considering measures to minimize impact, and is requesting public comments on this proposal. The surveys are scheduled to start in April 2021 and end by November 2021, with specific conditions proposed to ensure limited impact on marine mammal species, including some that are protected.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has issued an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to the University of Texas at Austin. This authorization allows UT to accidentally disturb certain marine mammals, like dolphins, while conducting a marine geophysical survey off the coast of Texas in the Gulf of Mexico. The survey will use low-energy seismic airguns to gather data, and measures are in place to minimize impact on the animals. The authorization also includes monitoring and reporting requirements to ensure marine mammal protection.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has received a request from the Maine Department of Transportation to allow the incidental taking of marine mammals during a construction project at Lubec Harbor in Maine. This involves the potential disturbance to five species of marine mammals due to sound from pile driving and drilling activities. The NMFS is seeking public comments on the proposed authorization to ensure marine mammals are least impacted. They propose certain mitigation measures to minimize disturbances and are considering allowing a one-year renewal if necessary, under specific conditions.